The Debtor and his Sow

A Man of Athens fell into debt and was pressed for the money by
his creditor; but he had no means of paying at the time, so he
begged for delay. But the creditor refused and said he must pay at
once. Then the Debtor fetched a Sow — the only one he
had — and took her to market to offer her for sale. It happened
that his creditor was there too. Presently a buyer came along and
asked if the Sow produced good litters. "Yes," said the Debtor,
"very fine ones; and the remarkable thing is that she produces
females at the Mysteries and males at the Panathenea." (Festivals
these were: and the Athenians always sacrifice a sow at one, and a
boar at the other; while at the Dionysia they sacrifice a kid.) At
that the creditor, who was standing by, put in, "Don't be
surprised, sir; why, still better, at the Dionysia this Sow has
kids!"